Pakistan

President Mamnoon calls for resolution of Palestinian conflict

President addresses 5th Extraordinary Organisation of Islamic Cooperation summit on Palestinian territories in Jakarta

News Desk March 07, 2016

President Mamnoon Hussain (front row 6th R), Indonesian President Joko Widodo (front row 8th R), Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas (front row 8th L), Secretary General of Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Iyad Ameen Madani (front row 7th R), Libya's Prime Minister-designate Fayez al-Sarraj (front row 5th R), Indonesia's Vice President Jusuf Kalla (front row 4th R), Sudan's President Omar Al-Bashir (front row 7th L), Yemen's President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi (front row 6th L), foreign Ministers and other delegates pose for photographers during the opening ceremony of the 5th Extraordinary Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit on the Palestinian territories in Jakarta on March 7, 2016. PHOTO: AFP

President Mamnoon Hussain on Monday called for a resolution of the longstanding Palestine conflict in accordance with the aspirations of Palestinian people for durable and sustainable peace and stability in the Middle East.

“The independence and sovereignty of Palestine should be the first and foremost priority of Muslim Ummah,” Radio Pakistan quoted the president as saying during his address at the 5th Extraordinary Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit on the Palestinian territories in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta.

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President Mamnoon Hussain (L) speaks with Indonesian President Joko Widodo (R) on the sideline of the 5th Extraordinary Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit on Palestine and al Quds al Sharif in Jakarta on March 7, 2016. PHOTO: AFP

“People of Pakistan consider the Palestinian conflict as their own and will continue to support the creation of the Palestinian state with al Quds al Sharif as its capital,” President Mamnoon added.

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Further, the president pointed out that the root causes of Palestine and Kashmir disputes are being overlooked.

A handout picture provided by the Palestinian Authority's press office (PPO) on March 7, 2016 shows President Mamnoon Hussain (L) meeting with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas (R) during the 5th Extraordinary Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit on the Palestinian territories in Jakarta. PHOTO: AFP

Expressing serious concerns over the recent spate of violence in the Palestinian areas, the Mamnoon said the unbridled use of force by Israel is contrary to the international laws. “Palestinian people should be given the right to exercise their religion besides their prisoners should be released.”

Earlier, Indonesia President Joko Widodo in his opening remarks to the summit, said the entire world is concerned by the deterioration of the situation in Palestine and criticised what he called Israel's "unilateral and illegal policies."

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Meanwhile, President Mamnoon met with his Indonesian counterpart on the sidelines of the summit and both discussed bilateral relations and international affairs.

Indonesian president appreciated Pakistan’s role in defusing tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran while both leaders stressed for the unity of Muslim Ummah. “Preferential trade agreement is a hallmark to promote trade between Pakistan and Indonesia,” Widodo said.

Speaking on the occasion, President Mamnoon said that Kashmir issue also needs to be given world attention to resolve this longstanding issue in accordance with the UN resolutions.